International Towers at Barangaroo and leading Australian interiors architects Geyer are developing a unique workplace community model across Tower Two and Tower Three International Towers at Barangaroo, bringing workers together in an open innovation precinct which inspires growth, collaboration and wellbeing.
Geyer Partner, Ms Robyn Lindsey said the new placemaking model includes a curated approach to tenancy and encourages strategic and serendipitous enterprise collaboration opportunities that aren’t accessible in traditional workplaces.
“There is an exciting new business ecology being cultivated within International Towers which responds to a profound shift in workplace culture – away from rigid constructs and hierarchical models, towards a more informal, social experience which inspires more innovative and creative thinking and creates a powerful sense of belonging,” said Ms Lindsey. “The model enables the convergence of different professionals, disciplines and sectors into a vibrant community of connected enterprises.”
Key elements of the new placemaking model include:
- A curated tenancy community of diverse organisations with aligned values, including a commitment to innovation, sustainability, collaboration and community.
- Designed by globally renowned architects, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, and developed by Lendlease, International Towers features an abundance of natural light and sweeping vistas. The building design, coupled with the egalitarian nature of the interior layouts, means all staff can have access to generous amounts of natural lighting throughout the day, plus enviable harbour and city views.
- Two and Three International Towers community tenancies are being designed to allow organisations the flexibility to expand and contract rapidly and efficiently. International Towers offers a ‘tenancy kit’ for bespoke tenancy workspaces. Key elements within the floor plates and design, allow teams to move and interact beyond their core space – depending on what the organisation’s needs and focus are.
- Work environments are designed to encourage and inspire cross-functional team interaction – including open spaces, visible gathering spaces, transparent activity rooms and connectivity between staff areas and event tenancies.
- There are many design elements between tenancies which encourage collaboration, connection and mobility. This includes the introduction of communal spaces where people can gather and co-create, as well as quiet spaces to focus and imagine. International Towers will also feature a unique ‘Companionway’ – a shared stairway between floors and tenancies which offers some opportunities for shared work spaces, social interactions and special events.
- International Towers management has introduced a strong service culture within the building which includes a year-round calendar of curated, whole of community events which offer cross-pollination and continuous learning opportunities to tenant partners and their people. Recent events have included the TEDxSydney salons focused around innovations in technology and science communities.
International Towers this month announced two new tenant partners under the curated tenancy model: sustainability specialists, Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and the campaign for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Reconciliation movement, Recognise. These organisations join the community of established innovation leaders within Two and Three International Towers including: KPMG and its new Innovation Lab; Australian Law Firm of the Year 2016 Gilbert + Tobin; leading global reinsurer Swiss Re; Australia’s most innovative international property and infrastructure group, Lendlease who developed International Towers; and Westpac Group, who recently won the best workplace in the 2017 Property Council Awards.
“This is a uniquely curated working community supported by an environment designed to inspire and optimise new and often unexpected enterprise experiences,” said Ms Lindsey.
“The design along with a strong values-based community culture that will develop out of interactivity, will bring together different organisations, their teams and individuals, inspiring new opportunities that can enhance business development, performance and personal growth and reward. It will provide tenants with enviable attraction for new and top talent and enrichment opportunities for their own cultures as it is laced with a design approach that builds on wellbeing practices and outcomes,” she said.
“Workplace design impacts behaviour such as how space is utilised, how it affects moods and mindsets, and influences how people behave and experience their everyday. Traditionally this relies on individual organisations within their own workplace walls to create, innovate and progress, yet many of our greatest ‘aha’ moments come when we are stimulated by external and unexpected stimuli. Our view is that interaction with neighbouring organisations and individuals cast within the everyday, can escalate opportunities and stimulate changed mindsets to afford greater opportunity for ideation, innovation and progress,” said Ms Lindsey.
International Towers General Manager, Mr Tony Byrne said: “High performance cultures are also very human and happy cultures which incorporate a powerful sense of community. We are aiming to create a knowledge sharing environment and community which has some of the buzz and social elements of an open university campus. We believe the positive impact of these elements on people’s sense of belonging, wellbeing and happiness at work can be hugely significant.”